I am a courtesan of Cabernet, a mistress of Malbec, a harlot for Hermitage. WSET Advanced lady of the vine. Passionate about learning all I can from climate to cellar, with a special love for pairing gastronomic delights with sensual wines. Enjoy!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Red Wines for Wintry Weather...and Romance!

Calgary received its first snowstorm of the season earlier this month. Although our fair city is well known for its extreme weather patterns and long winters, this bout of winter arrived way too early. This local photo went viral almost as soon as it was tweeted out:

Those three days of heavy wet snow that plagued our city inspired me to curl up in front of the fireplace with my husband, enjoy some wine and try not to look out the window. We focused on reds from Northeast Italy, specifically from the Valpolicella and Trentino DOCs. The two exceptions here are the bottle of Rioja I decided to sneak into the mix, and my husband's choice of a Super Tuscan. Price points for all bottles range from under $20 to $60 CDN. Here is what warmed up our souls, and ignited some romance as well!

Young and fruit-forward, with flavours of raspberries, blueberries and mocha lingering on the palate. Silky tannins and fresh acidity add to the smooth mouthfeel. A great accompaniment to pork ribs, and will warm you up on wintry nights! Decant for 30-45 minutes before serving so the fruit flavours can really shine.

2. Intaglio Trentino Rosso 2009

Notes of red cherry, earth and a wild animal whisper combine with soft tannins to create an alluring mouthfeel. Medium bodied and juicy, this wine paired well with smoked Gouda cheese and a cold weeknight.

3. Corallo Ripasso 2010

Another ideal weeknight wine, showing a flavour profile of dark cherries, raspberries and chocolate with a surprising earthiness mid-palate and a raisin finish. The high alcohol content makes this Ripasso very food friendly, and beef and pork dishes really brighten up the fruit.

A lively, approachable Super Tuscan, which is composed of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of fresh cherries, blackberries and black pepper combined with soft, focused tannins and mouthwatering acidity round out the palate. This wine is very food friendly and pairs well with everything from pizza to roast beef. Drink now or age for a maximum of 5 years in cellar.

Full-bodied and powerful, with edgy acidity and grippy tannins. Aromas of red currants, plums, vanilla and musk lead into the palate, with cedar notes on the finish to reflect the oak aging of the wine. Pair with lamb roasts, game meats and hard, strong cheeses. Decant 2 hours before serving. Drink now or age in cellar up to 7 years.

This wine will seduce you with racy acidity and silky tannins well integrated to it's voluptuous, full body. Notes of black cherries and savoury chocolate lead into a caramel finish. Curl up with your significant other, this wine and a blanket in front of a roaring fire and romance is surely in the cards!

Winter will hopefully still be awhile before it settles in here, but when it does, I'll be ready and well-armed with wines to keep my mind off the weather, and on my sweetie :) Whatever beverages light your fire, enjoy!

Sicily has some awesome red wines. My favourites include Planeta's Cerasuolo di Vittoria, made up of Nero d'Avola and Frappato grapes-it's a little like drinking a Pinot Noir. I also love Donnafugata's Sedara, also a Nero d'Avola based blend! When it comes to Piedmont, I prefer the Dolcettos and Barberas, which I really need to drink more of!